Ancelotti: Handshake shows respect

Carlo Ancelotti is a firm believer in the practice of shaking hands with opposing managers – and will do so with Mark Hughes’ Manchester City.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stormed down the tunnel following his side’s 3-0 defeat in the Carling Cup at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Article continues below ...

Hughes labelled Wenger “ungracious” and other Premier League managers weighed in with criticism, but a similar scenario seems unlikely on Saturday.

“I think that shaking hands is a normal thing,” Ancelotti said.

“Mark Hughes is a very good coach. I know him. For me, it’s not a problem to shake hands. You show respect to the other coach. It’s normal.

“In Italy, it’s not usual to do that at the end, immediately after the game.

“In England we have to do it. I think it’s a good thing to maintain calm and the atmosphere.

“I don’t know why Wenger didn’t shake hands with the other coach. I don’t know if it was right or wrong. Every person can do what he wants to do.”

Ancelotti’s side travel to City, who lie seventh, hoping to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Both sides are bankrolled by billionaires; Chelsea are owned by Russian Roman Abramovich while City are backed by powerful Arab oil tycoon Sheikh Mansour.

Chelsea have won six major trophies since Abramovich took over and Ancelotti believes the best way for City to do the same is via major investment from their wealthy owner.

“I think that, if you take good players, the top players, then it’s the quickest way to arrive at the top,” he said.

Hughes’ summer spending spree seemed to have paid dividends at the start of the season as his side looked certain to secure a top-four position.

Seven straight league draws have seen the club drift out of the race for a Champions League spot, but Ancelotti believes they still have a chance of making it into the top four.

“I think they have a possibility because they have a very good squad,” the 50-year-old said.

“The problem is that Manchester City change a lot of players in the season, so they have a new team.

“It’s necessary to have time to put a team out on the pitch. You need time to do this (properly). The work of Mark Hughes in the last month was not easy because, when you change a lot of players, it’s not easy to find the right way immediately.”